Ok programmers need you advice here.....?

For an entry level programmer, just got out of college which is better working as a programmer for a company or work for software consulting company? and Why?

That all depends upon you.

Are you very ambitious, risk-oriented, high-energy, and extremely confident. Do you have an extremely well-rounded IT education, but also competent in at least three high-demand areas: i.e., database, C++, .NET (including web programming)? Are you constantly keeping up with the latest in the IT knowledge bases? If so then, choose to go with a software consulting firm.

Else, if you just want a position where not too much demand or pressure is being constantly placed upon you then, the company environment may be the place for you.

Essentially, you should look at it from the perspective of auto repair. Do you just want to be a mechanic who simply performs routine maintenance, or do you want to be the type who is always called upon to be an trouble-shooter and do major repairs?

Regardless, you must read the job description, and ask the recruiter specific questions as to the nature of the work, environment, tools, technology, and expectations. In that way, you can better decide just what sort of company or consulting firm this prospective employer is? It may or may not fit the traditional description.

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With a software consulting company:

Advantages: Bigger library, more software components, more tools, possibly wider variety of projects, opportunity to learn many different techniques, paradigms, and applications

Disadvantages: Maybe too much specialization, fast paced environment, may have to work on several projects at once

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With a company:

Advantages: May have to improvise a lot (develop analytics/problem-solving), may have to assume several roles (eventually)

Disadvantages: Doesn't involve much software development from scratch鈥攋ust slight tweaking of existing software, not many cookie-cutter software patterns in library, not many truly fresh projects to work on

I would say go for the consulting company, you will get more experience as they will most likely put you on various projects. And the more experience you get the better your opportunities are in the future.